Faculty & staff news

ATSU

Amanda Anders joined the President’s Office as the new executive assistant. She previously worked as a clinical education coordinator in the ATSU-KCOM AHEC Program Office.

Lisa Archer, RN, BSN, director, simulation & performance assessment, received the Missouri campus fitness award for the third quarter of 2017.

Shalini Bhatia, MS, biostatistician, research support, received the Missouri campus Employee Excellence Award for the first quarter of 2017.

Michela Bull, MLSt, project manager, sponsored programs, received the Arizona campus fitness award for the first quarter of 2017.

Anabel Burgara, employment coordinator, human resources, received the Arizona campus Employee Excellence Award for the first quarter of 2017.

David Lopez, specialist, academic technologies, received the Arizona campus Employee Excellence Award for the second quarter of 2017.

Michelle Mayo, PhD, trustee, was appointed associate provost for Academic Programs and Undergraduate Research at North Carolina Central University in June.

Bobby Rogers, HVAC lead mechanic, maintenance, received the Missouri campus Employee Excellence Award for the second quarter of 2017.

Dawn Shaffer, manager, vice president & general counsel, passed the Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional® (CCEP) exam. CCEPs have knowledge of relevant regulations and expertise in compliance processes sufficient to assist organizations with their legal obligations, and they promote organizational integrity through the operation of an effective compliance program.

ATSU-ASDOH

Amanda Barstow was promoted to associate director, clinic operations. She previously served as the Advanced Care Clinic (ACC) manager. She will be responsible for operations of both the orthodontic and ACC clinics.

George Blue Spruce, DDS, MPH, assistant dean, American Indian affairs, received a proclamation that declared June 22 as “Dr. George Blue Spruce Day” in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sandra DeVita, RDH, RN, joined the School as an instructor in June.

Jae Park, DMD, PhD, MSD, MS, professor and chair, postgraduate orthodontics, was named one of eight directors of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) by the American Association of Orthodontists House of Delegates. Dr. Park’s term as a director of ABO lasts eight years, culminating in his role as president of the board beginning May 2024. In addition, Dr. Park was appointed to serve on the NBDE Part II Ortho-Pediatric Dentistry/ADAT test construction committee in September.

Charles Matlach, DDS, was promoted to director, clinical education, for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. Dr. Matlach previously served as an associate director in the program.

Lindsay Springer, DMD, ’12, MPH, ’11, joined the School’s CCU teaching faculty in October. As an ATSU-ASDOH alumna, she completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency during her five-year tenure in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps.

Dale Steiner, DMD, joined the teaching faculty in June. Dr. Steiner has nearly 30 years of clinical experience in addition to teaching both predoctoral students and postgraduate residents at St. Vincent De Paul. He graduated from Arizona State University and earned his doctoral degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

Kirsten Voak became the Integrate Community Service Partnership project coordinator in July.

ATSU-ASHS

Michelle DiBaise, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, ’14, professor, physician assistant studies, received the ATSU-ASHS Scholar of the Year award in May for excellence in the scholarship of discovery, integration, application, and teaching. This award is sponsored by John Heard, PhD, vice president of research, grants, & information systems.

Sue Falsone, PT, MS, ATC, associate professor, athletic training, served as the keynote speaker for the 2017 World Congress of the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy, held in Madrid at the Universidad Camilo José Cela on Sept. 29.

Jennifer Harris, MEd, associate director, transitional doctor of physical therapy, received the 2016 ATSU-ASHS staff assembly exemplary staff award in June.

Joy Levine, PT, DPT, PhD, assistant professor, transitional doctor of physical therapy, received the ATSU-ASHS Educator of the Year award in May for excellence in teaching, inspiring students to think critically, and promoting intellectual curiosity.

Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio, PhD, ATC, CSCS, director, interdisciplinary health sciences, received the ATSU-ASHS Educator of the Year award in May for excellence in teaching, inspiring students to think critically, and promoting intellectual curiosity.

James Lynskey, PT, PhD, director, physical therapy, received the ATSU-ASHS Distinguished Service of the Year award in May for excellence in service to the University, the community, and the profession. In August, Dr. Lynskey completed his American Physical Therapy Association Education Leadership Institute fellowship, which is accredited through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education.

Cassie Reynolds joined the Physical Therapy department as the new administrative assistant.

James Roush, PT, PhD, ATC, ATL, professor, physical therapy, received the Outstanding Service Award from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy in August.

Amanda Vigil, MBA, manager, interdisciplinary health sciences, received the 2016 ATSU-ASHS staff assembly exemplary staff award in June.

ATSU-CGHS

Katherine Adler, DHA, FACHE, associate dean, academics and assessment, was appointed by the Higher Learning Commission to be a member of the Peer Corps as a reviewer. She was selected for the Open and Standard Pathways reviews. In addition, Dr. Adler was appointed to the Pantry for Adair County Steering Committee. In September, she received the Senior Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award by the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Jeffrey Alexander, PhD, associate professor, health sciences, was named associate director for research and will oversee all Center for Resilience in Aging research activities. He received the Professor of the Year award at the College’s awards banquet in May.

Don Altman, DDS, DHSc, EdD, MPH, MBA, MA, ’12, dean, delivered the commencement speech for Fortis College’s Dental Hygiene graduation July 14 at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Kathleen DiCaprio, PhD, chair, health sciences, was accepted as a Higher Learning Commission peer reviewer.

Lihua Dishman, DBA, assistant professor, health administration, was appointed to the Journal of Health Administration Education Review Panel of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration in May. She will serve a three-year appointment.

Christopher Ferguson, data manager/career services coordinator, received the Outstanding Employee of the Year award at the College’s awards banquet in May.

John Fick, EdD, FACHE, associate professor, health administration, was appointed to the Annual Meeting Planning Committee of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration in May.

Jodi Gamm, MBA, joined the College’s academic advising team. She is working with students in the Kinesiology program.

Jaana Gold, DDS, PhD, MPH, CPH, associate professor, public health, was appointed chair of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry Educational Council.

Lynda Konecny, DHEd, MS, CHES, ’08, associate professor, health education, passed the Master Certified Health Education Specialist examination in May. In addition, she was elected as a governing councilor representing the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section, which is a two-year term beginning November 2017.

Michelle Lawrence joined the College as an enrollment representative.

Joan Leafman, PhD, associate professor, health sciences, received the Glendale School District “40 Hometown Hero” award for her work with Corbin’s Legacy.

Eric Matthews, PhD, associate professor, health sciences, completed the Program Reviewer certification course from Quality Matters in May, and he became a certified program reviewer and chair of the program review team.

Angela McKim is the College’s new student accounts coordinator.

Nick Merz joined the College as an enrollment representative.

Larry Olsen, DrPH, professor, health education, held a roundtable presentation titled “Promoting Global Urban Health Through Qualitative Research” on March 30 at the Society for Public Health Education annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.

S.D. Shanti, DDS, PhD, MPH, associate professor, public health, led a roundtable discussion titled “Self Care for Public Health Professionals” at the National Oral Health Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition, Dr. Shanti lectured at Thammasat University in Thailand on June 28 regarding “Your Health Psychology Tool-Kit: Using Behavioral Science Research to Prevent and Manage Non-communicable Diseases.”

Mary-Katherine Smith McNatt, DrPH, chair, public health, received the Michael Samuels Award at the College’s awards banquet in May. In addition, Dr. Smith McNatt was asked to join the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education led by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Jaime Sparling became the College’s admissions manager effective June 1. She previously served as an enrollment representative.

ATSU-KCOM

Jonathan Beary, DO, ’09, was appointed chair of the College’s Neurobehavioral Sciences department July 1.

“Students are often intimidated by neuroscience because it can be complex. I hope to change that.” – Dr. Jonathan Beary on becoming neurobehavioral sciences chair

Amanda Bowles is the new administrative assistant in the Biochemistry department.

Kathy Schroeder, coordinator, curriculum, received the Missouri campus fitness award for the first quarter of 2017.

Karen T. Snider, DO, C-NMM/OMM, assistant dean, curriculum, was elected to the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) in March at the AAO’s Convocation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dr. Snider was one of three osteopathic physicians from around the country to be newly elected as a governor, and she will serve a three-year term.

Brandi Snow, project coordinator, academic and clinical education affairs, received the Missouri campus fitness award for the second quarter of 2017.

Melissa Stuart, PhD, is serving as interim chair for the Department of Microbiology/Immunology.

ATSU-MOSDOH

Grishondra Branch-Mays, DDS, MS, joined the School as vice dean for academic affairs on Nov. 1. Dr. Branch-Mays most recently served as associate professor and director of interprofessional education at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

Joan Davis, PhD, joined the School on Nov. 1 as director of research, special projects, & initiatives at the St. Louis Dental Education and Oral Health Center. She most recently served as a professor at Southern Illinois University and an adjunct clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.

Dale DeWan, DMD, MS, director, integrated human sciences, retired from the School in June.

ATSU-SOMA

Jeffrey Morgan, DO, dean, attended Spotlight Health 2017, the opening conference for the annual Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado in June.

Faith Polkey, MD, MPH, regional director of medical education at Beaufort County Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services in South Carolina, was named the Juan Carlos Olivares Hometown Scholar Advocate of the Year in April. Dr. Polkey was recognized as an extraordinary mentor and role model to ATSU-SOMA students, as well as a tireless advocate for the profession.

Frederic Schwartz, DO, FACOFP, senior adviser to the dean, received the Pioneer of Osteopathic Medicine Award from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine at its hooding ceremony May 20. The award was created to honor individuals who exemplify the tireless dedication and bold pioneering spirit of the osteopathic profession’s founder. This award is the highest honor given by the college.